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Messi Returns to Argentina for Rest After World Cup Final Loss to Spain

Lionel Messi #10 of Argentina looks at the World Cup trophy after losing the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final match between Winner Spain and Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Getty Images/AFP)
Lionel Messi #10 of Argentina looks at the World Cup trophy after losing the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final match between Winner Spain and Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Getty Images/AFP)
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Messi Returns to Argentina for Rest After World Cup Final Loss to Spain

Lionel Messi #10 of Argentina looks at the World Cup trophy after losing the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final match between Winner Spain and Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Getty Images/AFP)
Lionel Messi #10 of Argentina looks at the World Cup trophy after losing the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final match between Winner Spain and Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Getty Images/AFP)

Lionel Messi arrived back in Argentina on Tuesday for a few days of rest following the World Cup final loss to Spain.

Messi's private jet landed near his hometown of Rosario from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, at 6:27 a.m. Although many fans were waiting with signs and flags, he did not make a public appearance.

Supporters only caught a brief glimpse of the SUV that met Messi on the tarmac to transport him and his family to the private neighborhood of Funes, roughly 300 kilometers (185 miles) north of Buenos Aires.

The Argentina captain reportedly traveled with his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, and their three children, all of whom had accompanied him throughout the tournament in North America. Waiting for him in Rosario was his 68-year-old father, Jorge, whose ongoing medical treatment for an undisclosed illness had been disclosed by the family during the World Cup.

Fans had gathered at the airport as early as 3:30 a.m. hoping to catch a sight of the star. Among them were two young girls in Albiceleste jerseys holding welcome signs, one of which read: “Messi: You’re a legend. Thank you for bringing joy to our hearts. A whole country loves you!”

Messi is expected to rejoin Inter Miami in late July or early August for the ongoing MLS season

Fifteen members of Argentina’s 26-player World Cup roster, led by head coach Lionel Scaloni, landed at Buenos Aires’ Ezeiza Airport on Monday on a chartered flight.

The squad’s arrival follows Sunday’s 1–0 extra-time loss to Spain in the World Cup final in East Rutherford, New Jersey, decided by a Ferran Torres goal.

The match marked Messi’s third World Cup final appearance following 2014 and 2022. He ended the tournament as the runner-up for the Golden Boot with eight goals, two behind France's Kylian Mbappé.

Mbappé tops the all-time World Cup goalscoring chart with 22, one more than Messi.

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Fleet Races Continue at Arab Sailing Championship in Jeddah

Fleet races continued Sunday at the Arab Sailing Championship for the Optimist class at the Jeddah Sailing Center. (SPA)
Fleet races continued Sunday at the Arab Sailing Championship for the Optimist class at the Jeddah Sailing Center. (SPA)
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Fleet Races Continue at Arab Sailing Championship in Jeddah

Fleet races continued Sunday at the Arab Sailing Championship for the Optimist class at the Jeddah Sailing Center. (SPA)
Fleet races continued Sunday at the Arab Sailing Championship for the Optimist class at the Jeddah Sailing Center. (SPA)

Fleet races continued Sunday at the Arab Sailing Championship for the Optimist class at the Jeddah Sailing Center, with strong competition for the top positions and Arab titles, the Saudi Press Agency said.

After seven races, Jean Luc Soares Herve leads the overall standings, followed by Tong Xuan Ya of the Saudi Optimist team in second place and Saudi sailor Ahmad Alshammari in third.

Under the championship regulations, competition for the titles of Arab champion and Arab female champion is limited to sailors from Arab countries. Alshammari, competing in the under-12 category, leads the standings among sailors eligible for the title of Arab champion.

Egypt's Laila Abdelazim leads the standings among sailors eligible to compete for the title of Arab female champion after placing sixth overall. The list of the top 10 includes four female sailors. The championship, organized by the Saudi Sailing Federation, concludes Monday.

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Resurgent Acosta Beats Martin for Maiden MotoGP Win in Austria

Spanish MotoGP rider Pedro Acosta of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing celebrates after winning the Grand Prix of Austria at the Red Bull Ring race track in Spielberg, Austria, 20 September 2026. EPA/MARTIN DIVISEK
Spanish MotoGP rider Pedro Acosta of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing celebrates after winning the Grand Prix of Austria at the Red Bull Ring race track in Spielberg, Austria, 20 September 2026. EPA/MARTIN DIVISEK
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Resurgent Acosta Beats Martin for Maiden MotoGP Win in Austria

Spanish MotoGP rider Pedro Acosta of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing celebrates after winning the Grand Prix of Austria at the Red Bull Ring race track in Spielberg, Austria, 20 September 2026. EPA/MARTIN DIVISEK
Spanish MotoGP rider Pedro Acosta of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing celebrates after winning the Grand Prix of Austria at the Red Bull Ring race track in Spielberg, Austria, 20 September 2026. EPA/MARTIN DIVISEK

Pedro Acosta claimed the first MotoGP victory of his career in the Austrian Grand Prix on Sunday, bouncing back from his sprint-race crash to beat world championship leader Jorge Martin at KTM's home Red Bull Ring circuit.

The 22-year-old Spaniard, who qualified third before crashing out while leading Saturday's sprint, seized the lead from polesitter Martin on lap nine of the 28-lap race and never looked back.

Aprilia's Marco Bezzecchi completed the podium, while Trackhouse rider Ai Ogura finished fourth.

It was an emotional moment for Acosta, nicknamed 'The Shark', who arrived in MotoGP with ⁠huge expectations after ⁠winning the Moto3 world title in 2021 and the Moto2 crown in 2023.

"The first one is always special," Reuters quoted Acosta as saying. "Nice way to close a season like this with KTM in front of all Austrian fans. Super happy for them because they deserve it even more than me."

Acosta is set to leave KTM at the end of 2026 to join the factory Ducati team.

Martin, the 2024 ⁠MotoGP champion, got off to a brilliant start but was overtaken by teammate Bezzecchi for the lead at Turn One on lap two. The 28-year-old responded immediately, reclaiming top spot at Turn Three on the same lap.

However, Acosta's pace proved decisive and he passed Martin for the lead on lap nine before pulling away.

"I want to congratulate Pedro. He fought a lot during the last few years to get this victory. This feeling is amazing for him, so I'm really happy for him," Martin said of his fellow Spaniard.

"For myself, I think I did a great race. I was trying to manage the ⁠fuel. Then Pedro ⁠took me but I thought everything was under control. But step by step, he was stepping away. I tried to push a bit more but my rear tire was completely destroyed. I did my best.

"This is what we have to do every weekend for the rest of the season, and the fight is on. So I am really looking forward to continuing like this."

Martin now has 306 points in the standings, a 12-point lead over compatriot and reigning MotoGP champion Marc Marquez ahead of next month's Japanese Grand Prix. Italian Bezzecchi is third with 264 points.

Marquez endured a frustrating weekend as Ducati lacked the outright pace of the Aprilias. The seven-time MotoGP champion qualified second but slipped back on the opening lap and eventually finished fifth.

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Britain, Zverev-inspired Germany Book Davis Cup Finals Spots

Germany's Alexander Zverev, right, after defeating Croatia's Dino Prizmic in their Davis Cup second qualifying round tennis match in Halle, Germany, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (Christoph Reichwein/dpa via AP)
Germany's Alexander Zverev, right, after defeating Croatia's Dino Prizmic in their Davis Cup second qualifying round tennis match in Halle, Germany, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (Christoph Reichwein/dpa via AP)
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Britain, Zverev-inspired Germany Book Davis Cup Finals Spots

Germany's Alexander Zverev, right, after defeating Croatia's Dino Prizmic in their Davis Cup second qualifying round tennis match in Halle, Germany, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (Christoph Reichwein/dpa via AP)
Germany's Alexander Zverev, right, after defeating Croatia's Dino Prizmic in their Davis Cup second qualifying round tennis match in Halle, Germany, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (Christoph Reichwein/dpa via AP)

Great Britain stamped their ticket to the Davis Cup finals with a 3-0 win over Ecuador in London on Sunday, while US Open champion Alexander Zverev sealed Germany's place in the last eight.

Henry Patten and Neal Skupski wrapped up the victory for Britain with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Diego Hidalgo and Gonzalo Escobar, consolidating the work put in in the singles the day before by debutant Toby Samuel and Arthur Fery.

Top-ranked doubles player Patten and his partner Skupski, the world number three, secured a sole break of serve in the first set to take control against their 91st and 93rd-ranked opponents.

In the second set, the British duo got their noses in front in the ninth game, before promptly serving out for the 10-time Davis Cup champions.

"We're feeling great," Patten said on-court, according to AFP.

"We're very, very happy to get it done on the first match."

On Saturday in the British capital, 23-year-old Samuel overcame Andres Andrade and Wimbledon semi-finalist Fery saw off Alvaro Guillen Meza to set up the victory.

Germany's Zverev then put the elation of claiming the second Grand Slam of his career firmly behind him as he led his country into the finals.

The world number two beat 103rd-ranked Croatian Dino Prizmic 6-2, 6-4 to take Germany one step closer to a first Davis Cup title since 1993.

Zverev broke his 21-year-old opponent three times, without facing a break point himself, to win in 77 minutes in Halle.

The 29-year-old had got the Germans off to a winning start against Croatia on Saturday with a straight-sets success against Matej Dodig.

Prizmic hit back instantly for the away side but Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz's win in the doubles rubber tipped the tie back in Germany's favor.

Spain also stand on the brink of a return to the finals as they lead hosts Chile 2-0 in Santiago following Daniel Merida and Rafael Jodar's victories in Saturday's singles rubbers.

Jaume Munar and Pedro Martinez will meet Tomas Barrios Vera and Alejandro Tabilo in the first of three possible matches on Sunday.

The winners of that final tie will join triple defending champions and finals hosts Italy, as well as Britain, Germany, Czech Republic, South Korea, Austria and Canada in the Davis Cup Final 8, which will run from November 24-29 in Bologna.